Window shade



y 1929- N. M. MASfROMO NACO ,5

WINDOW SHADE Filed Opt. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Izuenag May 14, v1929. N. M. MASTROMONACb 1,712,574.

WINDOW SHADE Filed Oct. 2, 1926 2 Shets-Sheet 2 I Patented May 14,1929. 7

UNITED STATES NIGOLAM. MASTROMONACO, F BUFFALO, YORK.

wrnnow SHADE.

Application filed Octobe -r 2, 1926. Serial No. 139,107.

- This invention relates generally to improvements in window shades but more particularly to means for holding the shade in any desired posit-ion.

a ()ne of its objectsis to provide a holding means for window shades which is simple, compact and inexpensive in construction, which can be easily and conveniently operated, and which is not liable to get outof W order.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improvedmeans forguiding the shade ina straight path and for releasably locking the same in a fixed position.

A still further object is to provide means for rendering the shade-locking mechanism automatically operative when the shade i raised to a predetermined point. i I i In the accompanying drawings :--Figur 1 is a front view of a window frame showing my invention applied thereto. Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary face view ofone end ofthe shade and its holding means. t Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view,partly in section, of one end of the shade-holding means. Figure 4 is an enlarged front View of the shade-bar or stick, partly in section, showing the holding means and theircontrolling mechanism in the normally locked view, similar to Figure 4, showing the controlling mechanism set in its unlocked position.- Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially in the plane of line 6-6, Fig. 4. Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section on line 7'7,'Fig.2.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views. By way of example, the invention is shown in connection with a window frame 10 having a spring roller type of shadell journaled in suitable brackets 12 securedto the upper end of the frame. Attached to the opposite sides of the window frame and spaced forwardly therefrom are upright guide memhers-or rails 13 which are preferably T- shaped in cross section, the cross bar 14 of each guide member being arranged at right angles to the frame and having a, series of equidistant horizontal notches 15 in its front edge. The flange 16 of each guide member faces inw'ardlyand constitutes a trackway on which the shade is guided. Brackets 17 position. Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional Welded or otherwise fastened to these guide members serve to properly support them on the window-frame.

Contained in a transverse pocket 18 at the lower edge of the shade 11 is the shade-stick which carries the various parts of the holding mechanism. This stick, by preference, comprises a centrally disposed base plate 19 to the ends of which are secured oppositelyextending strips or core pieces 20, 20 over which corresponding metallic tubes 21, 21 of rectangular cross section are telescopically fitted. The outer ends of said tubes extend somewhat beyond the ends oftheir core piecesand mounted therein for adjustment lengthwise of the shade-stick are brackets 22 each having upper and lower grooved rollers 23, 23 arranged to engage the flange 16 of the corresponding T-shapedguide member 13 forgu-idingthe shade in a true path during its raising and lowering movements. Projecting from'opposite sidesof these brackets are "outwardly'fand inwardly bent lips, or flanges 24,24 which embracethe cross bar 1 4 of the guidemembers in the manner shown in Fig. 3 and together with the rollers 23 effectually prevent both longitudinal and transverse displacement of the shade-stick relative to the'guide rails. The attaching inner end or shank of each bracket 22 is held in a set position by aU-bolt 25 passing through K metallic-tubes 21. mounting the brackets in this manner, the shade-stick can be readily ad usted to suit window frames of varying widths Wltlllllfl certain range.

Located at the opposite ends of the shadestick and carried by the brackets 22 for cooperationwiththe notches 15 of the guide rails are looking devices for positively holding the shade at any desired'elevation. These locking devices consist of horizontally-swinging leversor latches 27 pivoted at 28 to the corresponding brackets, the outer arms of said latches being curved toward the guide rails and adapted to. interlock with one or another of the notches therein. Springs 29 interposed between the inner arms of the Figs. 2 and 4, the frontbracket-llips 24, which embrace one side of the guide rails 13, have to the base plate19 and which is adapted to recesses 30 therein to permit the inner arms .movementof the locking latches.

. element preferably in the form of a small pulley 31 mounted on the base plate 19 of the shade-stick for movement about a horizontalaxis. Atits diametrically opposite sides-this pulley has ears- 32 to which are fastened the inner ends of flexible connections or wires 33, 34: which extend in opposite directionsfrom said pulley and are suitably fastenedat their outer ends to the innerarms 1 of the respective latches,as-shownin Fig; 4.

These Wires extend horizontally through'correspondinggrooves orpassages 35 in the core pieces 20 and thence-outwardly through reg isterin ,slots or openings 36, 37; in'the shanks of the rackets 22 and the end portions of thetubes 21, respectively, as seen-in Fig. 4.

When the pulley is turned in a clockwise-directiomthe wires 33, 34 are simultaneously pulled; inwardly to rock the latches 27 in a .'.direction to release them from locking'cngagement with the rail-notches15, and thus permitithe shade to be raised orlowered. The 'pulile isfactuated to release the latches through t e medium of a finger ring 38 depending centrallyfromthe lower edge of the shade: and connected bya cord 39 with the For the purpose of temporarily locking I thep ulley'inthe position shown in Fig. 5 and 'shownby' dotted lines in F ig. 3, .alocking ing' the latches in their released position pawl 40is. provided which is pivoted at 41 engageanotch 42 in theperiphery of thepulley-fiange lij, in such position, a'spring 44 tending to urge the pawl into its notch. A

finger ring 45 is arranged alongside the ring 7 38 and is connected by axcord 46with the tail endof the pawl. When said ring 45 is pulled, it releases the pawl from lock-ingengagement .witl1.,the pulley, allowing the latch springs 29 toa'ct and return the latches to thelr locked position. In so]doing, the wires33', 34am likewise pulled ina direction to turn the pulley to its original position, shown in Fig. 4,

'whereinthe pulleynotch is out of register with its lockingpawl. It will be understood from the foregoing that when the finger ring 38, is pulled the shadeis freeto be raised or lowered, .andwhen the ring 45is pulled, the

shadefis locked against such movement.

If desired, means maybe providedjfor automat'ically arresting the raising of the shade beyond va predetermined point. As shown in Fig. ,4, a wire'47 connects the tail end of the p'awllO with'onearm ofa rock leveri48 fulcrumed at-49 to the right hand bracket 22.

Pivoted to the other arm of said lever and guided for movement in a bearing 50 is a vertlcal plunger 51 having a spring applied theretowhich tends constantly to muse the plunger and hold its rock lever in the normal position shown. Secured to the adPoining guide rail 13 or the adjacent side of t 1e window "frame and in the path of movement of the lever-actuating plunger is a trip arm 52, which acts to lower the plunger when the same strikes said arm upon raising the shade, thereby rocking the lever 48 in the proper direction to pull the wire 47 and release the pawl 40 from the pulley, with the result that the latches 27 are allowed to automatically return to their locked position in the same manner as if said'pawl were actuated manually through its finger ring 45.

The-oscillating movement of the pulley 31 is limited in either direction by a stop pin 58 projecting into a peripheral notch 54 in the pulley-flange 43. A cover plate 56 extends over the front side of the base plate 19 so as to completely encase the parts carried by it.

I claim as my invention l. A device of the character described, comprising a shade stick, a locking device applied to the end of the stick, manually-operated means connected withsaid locking device for moving it to its released position, retractable means for holding said manually-operated means in such released position, and means for effecting the automatic return of the locking device to its engaged position upon the retractionof said holding means.

.2. Adevice of the character described, comprising a shade stick, a locking device applied to the end of the stick, an oscillating member mounted on the shade stick intermediate its ends, a connection between said member and said locking device, yieldable means for mow ing the oscillating member and the locking device to locked position, and releasable means for holding said parts in their unlocked position. 3. A device of the character described, comprising a shade stick, a locking device appliedto the end of the stick, means operated manually in one direction and connected to said 100 King device for moving it to its released position, retractable means dis alongside otand arranged to interlock with said manual means for holding the some in such released position, means for efl'ecling the automatic return of the locking device to its engaged position and the manually-operated means thereof toa corres onding position upon the retraction of said holding means, and finger-engaging elements depending from the shade stick and connected with said manually-operated means and said retractable means, respectively, for actuating them.

4., Adeviee of the character described, comprisng a shade stick, a latch applied to the end of the stick, means for constantly urging said latch to its locked position, an oscillating member arranged substantially centrally of the shade stick and having a locking notch therein, a connection joining said member with said latch, a detent arranged to engage the locking notch of said oscillating member for holding it and the latch in unlocked position, and pull cords disposed in proximity to each other and attached to said oscillating member and said detent for alternately actuating them to control the latch.

5. A device of the character described comprisin a shade stick, a latch applied to the end olthe stick, means for constantly urging said latch to its locked position, an oscillating member arranged substantially centrally of the shade stick, a connection joining said member with said latch, a detent arranged to engage the oscillating member .for holding it and the latch in unlocked position, means for actuating said oscillating member, and automatic means for actuating said detent including a lever fulcrumed at one end onthe shade stick, a connection between one arm of the lever and the detent, a part on the other arm of said lever adapted to be tripped for moving the same in a direction to actuate the detent, and a trip element arranged in the path of said part to be tripped.

6. A device of the character described, comprising a shade stick, guide members for said stick applied to the ends thereof, latches mounted on said guide members to swing transversely thereof, springs for urging said latches to their locked position, an oscillating member journaled substantially centrally of the shade stick, flexible connections joining the opposite ends of said oscillating member with said latches, a detent arranged toengage the oscillating member for holding it and the latches in. their unlocked positions, and pull cords attached to said oscillating member and said detent for alternately actuating them to control the latches.

N IGOLA M. MASTROMONAGO. 

